Western Trust public meeting rescheduled after room was too small

by Gráinne Connolly

A public consultation regarding the 'savings plan' was supposed to take place in Enniskillen yesterday evening, however it has been re-scheduled. 

A spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust said: 

"Due to health and safety reasons, the Western Trust had to postpone the Savings Plan consultation meeting yesterday evening (28 September 2017) at the Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen. 

"The consultation meeting will now take place on Monday 2 October 2017 at 7pm in the larger hall in the Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen. 

"We are encouraging the public to also make comments on the consultation by visiting the Western Trust website www.westerntrust.hscni.net under ‘Consultations’ before 5 October 2017.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused to anyone who attended yesterday evening.”

According to the Western Trust a venue was hired at the Lakeland Forum which was the largest room available at the time for yesterday evening's Savings Plan public consultation. 

In the public advertisement for the event, the Trust had asked members of the public to register their interest if attending the event.

A spokesperson for the Trust said a low level of interest was registered, however, a higher number of people attended than expected. 

Ulster Unionist MLA Rosemary Barton has criticised the Western Trust regarding the nature of the meeting that was planned yesterday. 

She said:

"It's very frustrating for the wider public who came to provide their views on the Trust plans that their arrangements for the meeting were inadequate.

“Surely after the interest and numbers attending the Stroke Unit event two weeks ago in the Killyhevlin they should have been much better prepared.

 “Unfortunately the event last night had to be postponed due to the large numbers of the public in attendance. While the Trust had asked people to register their interest in attending they should be aware that will not often happen.

“I am pleased that another meeting has now been organised for Monday at 7.00pm in a larger room in the Lakeland Forum. I hope the public will attend and provide their views on the proposals.”

The MLA was not the only one who criticised the Western Trust after yesterday's planned meeting about the savings plan.

Fermanagh's Save Our Services group took to social media to say that only the first 100 people were allowed in to the meeting. 

"They aimed to have a sham consultation event that could easily be controlled where the few allowed in would sit at tables alongside Trust big-wigs who could control proceedings."

They're also appealing for people to attend the re-scheduled consultation on Monday 2 October.